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Estuaries in NSW

Wamberal Lagoon
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Terrigal Lagoon Tuggerah Lakes
[Image of Estuary] Wamberal Lagoon
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Small coastal lake

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 6 km2
Waterway Area 0.5 km2
Entrance Characteristics Intermittently/mechanically opened and untrained
Location (Lat-Long) 33.430S ,  151.449E
Distance (from Sydney) 90 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

Typically shallow coastal lakes with nominal depths of less than 2 m, increasing to perhaps 3 m in the central areas. At the entrance to Terrigal Lagoon, a shelf of highly weathered ironstone at about mean sea level is covered with beach sand.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Wamberal Lagoon

Population and Holiday Centres

Wamberal

Special Attributes

General

  • Growing residential area - also popular holidaying area for residents of Sydney.
  • Wamberal Lagoon and foreshores comprise a nature reserve rich in fish and diversified bird life.
  • Pelicans and black swans frequent the inland areas of Avoca Lake.
  • The bed of Avoca Lake is currently a source of construction sand and heavy minerals.

Estuarine Vegetation

The spatial data is reproduced from NSW Fisheries(2006/7) studies, whilst the species makeup is from the West et al.(1985). This map shows the spatial extent of the Estuarine Vegetation.

Type Area Species 1
(km2)
Mangroves 0.000
Seagrass 0.436 r
Saltmarsh 0.000

References

R.J. Williams, G. West, D. Morrison and R.G. Creese, (2006),
"Estuarine Resources of New South Wales",
prepared for the Comprehensive Coastal Assessment (DoP) by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens.

R.J. West, C.A. Thorogood, T.R. Walford and R.J. Williams. (1985).
"An Estuarine Inventory for New South Wales, Australia".
Fisheries Bulletin 2. Department of Agriculture, New South Wales.

Estuary Commerce

fishing

Management Issues

This estuary falls in the area covered by Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority.

Wamberal Lagoon

Current Situation

Council has prepared a management plan for its coastal lagoons which it is currently implementing. This plan pre-dates the estuary management process but incorporates many of the components. Subsequently, Gosford City Council has formed an estuary management committee to involve the community in the management of its estuaries.

The Estuary Management Process 2

Process Status Date
Form Estuary Management Committee (EMC) completed
Assemble Existing Data none
Carryout Process Study none
Carryout Estuary Management Study none
Draft Estuary Management Plan none
Review Estuary Management Plan none
Implement Estuary Management Plan none
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process none

Contact Details

Gosford City Council Peter Freewater
Ph (02) 4325 8222 Fax (02) 4323 2477

References

Local Government Areas

Gosford

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Gosford